Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1887-09-09
FARM DAIRY AND HOUSEHOLD.
Plough Early Fer Wheat

The Agriculturist advises farm
ers to plough early for wheat IL
stubble ground is to be put in fall
wheat, the plough cannot be start
ed too early. If the shocks are
taken off the ground as soon as
the grain has cured enough for |
the NOW or stack, and the ground
is broken at once, the most impor-
tant step in successful wheat-grow-
ing has been taken. The condi-
ton of the seed-bed is of more i'm
portance in the growing of small
grains than of cultivated crops,
because making the condition of
the ground favorable to the yield
ing of plant food is impossible
after the grain is sown. Of the
small grains, fall wheat most de-
mands a well-prepared seed-bed.
for oats do not have to pass
through our trying winters, while
fall rye is more hardy. The seed
bed most favorable to fall wheat is
broken moderately deep, but not
deeper than the harrow and roller
will have effect; thoroughly fined,
and as thoroughly compacted. Early
ploughing makes it possible for us
to make such seed-bed, and with
the least expenditure. The weather
is dry and hot after harvest, and
rapidly dries and hardens the
ground; if we delay ploughing, the
labor is severer, and the ground
breaks in hard Jumps, difficult
to reduce. Though we use the
harrow ard the roller persistently,
we do not get the seed-bed in
prime condition. The Jumps are
not crumbled or pulverized, but
are divided only. At the end of
our labor we have Only small clods,
nevertheless. The air, therefore,
penetrates the soil, and finishes
the drying, hardening process.
The light showers that fall are
soon dissipated. The clods cannot
be compacted. Hence the wheat
when sown is slow to terminate;
the plants find only a scanty
supply of food, and their roots
have not solid supports to cling to
during the winter.
If. however, the pleughirg is
done early, the Jumps will not be
SO large and many, nor SO hard
If the roller is passed over the
ground as soon as a strip wide
enough is ploughed-and not to
do this is a very serious omission
the clods are crushed and the
ground pressed down, until little
of its moisture escapes. Then tn
harrow and roller can be used adj
vantageously, for the ground is il
good condition. The clods ar
reduced to fine dirt, and fine mois
earth can be compacted. Less labo
than that put upon ground plough
ed late, will make the seed-be,
fine and compact, and it is moist
The seed terminate readily, til
plants have enough food for Wig
orous growth, and the strong root
have solid earth to cling to.
By ploughing early we also &c
the aid of the sun and air ant
showers, in putting the seed-be
in good condition, and this aid
substantial help. If the plough
ing is not done until late the clod
are SO hard that the showers, an
sun and air have little effect upo
them, but by ploughlng early an
rolling the ground as fast q
ploughed, we have the Jumps
such condition that showers, al
and sun will aid in crumbling then
The disintegrating work of tn
elements is not small, and its n
suits are all that could be desirec
1t makes the ground grainy, an
also compacts it. In fact. thong
the ground is ploughed early an
in good condition, it would be i'm
possible to get the seed-bed in
condition as tvaorable to the whea
without the help of the element
as with them. AS the elemen
charge nothing for their excellel
work, and board themselves, W
do Well to get them at work earl
and under conditions that perm
much being accomplished.
There are yet other reasa1
why early ploughing is more favo
able to the wheat. That the a
adds to the fertility of the soil
well known, and ploughing I'll
ground early, which exposes
greater and a moist surface, il
creases the action of the air, owe
its action on hard, dry groun
Also, in the ground there are seet
of various sorts, which germinat
when the ground is ploughe,
Chess, weeds, grass, etc., will |
ready to spring up and crowd til
wheat if the ground sploughed lat
rapidly prepared, and sown at one
But if the ground is ploughe
early, these seeds will have ge
minated before the wheat is sow
and the harrow will destroy til
plants. Hence the seed-bed wi
be clean as well as in nond nnnd